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Her Destiny Lies Elsewhere	By : TheStarvingArtist Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 7181 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN DRAGON AGE. This is a work of fiction, and I make no money from it. This fic contains dialogue from the game.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Author's Note: So, yay! I'm finally nearing the end of the heavily-scripted parts. Rio is fleshing out nicely and the world is still in peril, but she's facing the challenges as they come. Only a few parts from here on will follow the dialogue from the game itself, though I will continue to present the disclaimer when it's present. Onwards now!
(Also, she mentions Rhys in this chapter. It wasn't until after I'd chosen the name and stuck with it for a while that I remembered that it was also the name of Cole's friend. I won't be changing it, because I like that name, and it's a rather fitting name for Rio's brother. So yaaaay, more feels!)
This chapter is a long one. I hope to have the next part up by next weekend or so, though it won't be as long.
Enjoy!

**This fic contains many quotes and much dialogue straight from the game.**
Chapter Three
Friendly Fire

As luck would have it, Rio was a fast study, and was soon throwing fireballs willy-nilly, as she practiced how to aim. Smiling at her rapid progress, Solas proclaimed they would be safe to continue onward again, beginning to cross the river again and make their way upwards once more. “So,” Solas said as they walked, “I assume since you have no prior knowledge of magic that you don't hail from any Circle... And judging by your reaction to your own reflection, you aren't Dalish.”
Frowning at that, Rio looked at Solas, “What?” she asked, confused. “No, I'm not Danish. I'm a little Italian, but not Danish...”
Solas blinked at her, frowning somewhat. “What is a 'Danish'?”
Rio turned to look at him, stumbling for a moment before catching herself. “Well, it can be either... a pastry... or someone from Denmark would be Danish...”
His frown grew a little more as confusion was written on his features. “I... don't think I understand... Some people are part... pastry?”
Rio stopped for a moment before laughing, shaking her head a little, “Oh, no, no, it... um... A Danish pastry is a very separate thing from a Danish person. And to answer your question, I am neither... Wasn't that what you asked?”
His small smile in reply made her frown more, but he was quick to answer, “Ah, no, I had asked if you were Dalish,” he said, eyes sparkling just a little. 'Dalish' is the term used for elves, and they typically travel in clans with Aravels and small herds of halla.” Rio shook her head a little, making him nod slightly. “I thought as much. You don't quite carry yourself like one.”
The subject changed abruptly when another fight broke out. This time, Rio was able to land a couple of blows on a Shade from a distance before it turned on her. She let out a small squeal before grabbing her staff with both hands and swinging as hard as her tired arms would allow. Solas moved between them as she scrambled back, Varric catching her by her sash before she could stumble.
The charming rogue offered her a smile as he helped her back to her feet, the battle soon over again. “There you go, Squeaks,” he said as he helped her dust off. Her cheeks got even redder as she tried to hide her embarrassment, Cassandra rolling her eyes.
“Always with the nicknames. Don't you ever tire of calling people by everything but their given name?” she said, patience wearing more and more thin.
Varric's smile was warm as they bantered on, making their way to the top of the next steep hill. Another battle awaited them there, as well as another rift. Closing this one was harder, the events of the day wearing on Rio as they finally managed to close it. The others seemed unaffected by the battles while she felt drained, trudging through the great stone archway. Stepping out of the way, she leaned heavily against the battlements, pulling her coat tighter around her as she shivered and hugged herself tightly. It wasn't just the cold that affected her. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this tired.
After a little while, she was aware of shouting and eyes on her, looking up from where she'd huddled in on herself to find Solas standing a little ways away, a small bottle in his hand. Stepping forward, he offered it to her, the clear liquid a light shade of green. “Here,” he said, “You'll feel better with this.” Frowning, she took a small whiff of it, brow raising. It smelled like mint and pine, and just a hint of something else she couldn't place. She started to debate refusing it, but at his look, she shrugged, quickly downing the small vial. It was strange, but pleasant, and very minty. It chilled her for a moment as the stuff went down, making her shiver a little before warmth spread through her tired limbs, the ache starting to fade. She was surprised to find her strength returning, taking Solas' hand as he helped her to her feet, blushing when she found herself feeling almost renewed. Brushing herself off, she followed Solas along the bridge, looking around. Past the small groups of scouts and soldiers, they came up to Leliana and Cassandra, who were arguing with a man in white and salmon-colored robes with gold threads decorating them. The white hood of the under-robes was pulled up, secured by a little brown leather hat, a sunburst design in gold completing his look. Rio frowned a little as they drew near, Cassandra's voice rising angrily.
“Order me?!” she said, scowling darkly. “You are a glorified clerk! A bureaucrat!”
He frowned right back at her as he replied, “And you are a thug, but a thug who supposedly serves the Chantry!”
“We serve the Most Holy, Chancellor,” Leliana interjected, bowing her head a little, “as you well know.”
Holding up his hands, the Chancellor cried, “Justinia is dead!” Upon realizing that his words might have come out harsher than he'd intended, he gave a quiet sigh, his words softening, but still holding their conviction. “We must elect a replacement, and obey her orders on the matter!”
Rio frowned at that, stepping forward. “There isn't time to elect someone new. What're we supposed to do about the giant hole in the sky? And what about me? I would like to go home!” she cried, beginning to feel frantic. “I don't know about any of you crazy people, but this is not my home!”
The Chancellor turned on her next, dark grey eyes menacing as he scowled at her. “This is all your fault! None of this would've happened if it weren't for you!”
Cassandra stepped between them, frowning down at him. “She is fighting as much as the rest of our troops, Chancellor Roderick...”
He took a wavering breath, shaking his head at her. “Call a retreat, Seeker,” he said, trying to implore to the woman. “Our position here is hopeless.”
Cassandra shook her head firmly, frowning right back at him as she stood her ground. “We can stop this,” she said, standing resolutely before him, “before it is too late.”
Roderick appeared defeated as his shoulders slumped, looking at her doubtfully. “How? You won't survive long enough to reach the temple, even with all your soldiers!” he said, waving a hand at the few scouts present on the bridge.
“We must get to the Temple,” she said. “It's the quickest route.”
Leliana shook her head as she stepped in quickly, “But it's not the safest. I propose a differet plan: our forces charge as a distraction while we go through the mountains.” She motioned up to the high mountain peeks, and as Rio looked up, she felt almost dizzy looking at them. Both plans had her equally uneasy as she swallowed hesitantly.
Shaking her head at that, Cassandra waved the plan off with one gloved hand. “No, we lost contact with an entire squad on that path. It is too risky up there.”
Once more, the Chancellor tried to get them to see reason, pleading with them both, “Please, listen to me, I beg you! Abandon this now before even more lives are lost!”
Ignoring his words the warrior turned, and once again, Rio felt herself shrinking back as she fell under everyone's attention once more. “How do you think we should proceed?” she asked, looking to Rio as if her opinion mattered.
Blinking in confusion, she sputtered, “W-what? You're asking me?” Shrugging, she held up her hands again, trying to keep out of this decision. “Don't look at me, I don't know anything about tactics!”
Solas stepped forward with a gentle hand on her shoulder, encouraging her forward again. “Well, you have the mark,” he said as she looked at him with a frown.
“And you are the one we must keep alive,” Cassandra finished. Motioning to the others, she continued, “Since it seems we cannot agree on our own, what do you think we should do?”
Blushing, she tried to think over the suggestions, not liking the thought of traipsing through a mountain, but also not liking the idea of facing dangerous groups of Shades and wraiths, or potentially something worse... But then, the thought of facing those things while traipsing through a dangerous mountain path... Swallowing heavily, she managed a soft, “Well... the fastest route is usually the better one...”
It seemed that was answer enough for them, because shortly after that, they were moving out once more. Rio's newly pointed ears perked up when she caught Roderick's words as they passed: “On your head be the consequences, Seeker.”
Trying not to cringe at those words, she hoped inwardly that this wouldn't backfire, praying quietly to a god she hadn't believed in for years that they might make it out of this alive.
***
A few small battles later, Rio and the others met up with the soldiers fighting in the pass. While it was another chance to fight alongside Solas against more opponents and practice her new-found skills, Rio found the larger battles harder to follow, and more often than not, seemed to miss her targets—to some rather disastrous consequences. More than once, she struck a soldier or scout and completely missed the shade entirely, finally giving up on trying and settling for a more physical approach. She took down less Shades that way, but she hit fewer allies as well.
When the Shades went down, Rio started to relax, turning to close the rift when she realized something was different. Standing up straighter, she realized here and there were patches of green light shat shimmered and bubbled, like miniature rifts. Stepping back from one, she saw what looked like a shoot from a plant pop out before disappearing again. She had no time to react as something tall, thin, and green leapt from the hole before her.
Turning its beady eyes on her, it threw back its skull-like head and let out a terrible screech. Yelping at the piercing sound, Rio tried to turn and get out of the way, feeling the otherworldly screech resound in her head, almost pulsing, making it hard to think.
Her movements became sluggish, struggling with her thoughts as she stumbled away from the creature. She didn’t know what that thing was, but it was dangerous, and it wasn’t alone, she noticed, spotting another a short distance away as the others fought against it. Finally getting herself to her feet, she only made it a few steps before the shockwave slammed into her hard, sending her tumbling to the ground. Her ears were ringing as she tried to push herself to her feet, barely managing to get to her knees before the ground in front of her opened up.
With no time to react, Rio was flung back again as the green creature leaped into the air, sending her flying. It moved with her, landing practically atop her. She hit the ground hard again, head swimming as she fought to stay awake. Stars filled her vision as she blinked. She only barely heard her staff clatter some distance away, even as she tried to reach for it with one fumbling hand, only finding cold stone. Looking up dazedly as it leaned back, Rio caught a glance of long and deadly claws as it prepared to strike her down, feeling a distant panic rise in her befuddled mind. It was going to kill her. It was going to disembowel her and there wasn't anything she could do about it.
The clang of steel rang out, cutting through the fog as she starting to come to, sitting up shakily as she looked up, finding the sun blocked out by a tall figure. Squinting as she tried to make out what had happened, she caught the scream of the creature as it fell to the cobblestones before breaking up and dissolving back into the rift above them. Bright eyes blinked as she tried to reorient herself.
She shakily rose to her knees before her would-be rescuer turned to face her, making her scramble back in fright. All she could make out for a few moments was a glinting helm in the shape of a roaring lion, and it made her heart race as she squeaked again. A gloved hand reached for the black and red mane that flowed behind and around the shining helm, swiftly pulling it off in one smooth motion.
When she was able to think clearly again, she found herself blinking up at amber eyes. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked up at him, the wary concern evident on his face before he reached a hand out to her. She took a moment to realize she was still lying on the cold ground, blushing as she tentatively took his hand, pulling herself up to her feet.
“I almost didn't recognize you in those clothes,” the man said as Cassandra approached, Rio's face turning a brighter red than it already was from the cold mountain air.
“Rio,” Cassandra said as she dusted herself off, “the rift...”
Turning, she found it undulating and twisting, giving off that sickly green color before she stepped forward, hand reaching out with her mark. Concentrating as best she could like before, Rio managed to push her will into it, pulling and stitching it closed more easily this time. When it too closed with an echoing bang, she felt more relieved for the brief rest from the onslaught, letting herself slump a little. She hadn't been any help at all against that last thing, and the image of it left her shaken.
Jumping when she felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned to find Solas, handing her staff back to her with a small smile. “Sealed, as before,” he said encouragingly as her right hand wrapped tightly around her staff, using it to support her for a few moments. “You are becoming quite proficient at this.”
Rio's face blushed again, leaning against the staff and bowing her head to hide her embarrassment at his praise. Did he not see how easily she'd been tossed about like a ragdoll? She didn't dare sat anything though as she sifted, Varric coming up on her other side as he looked up at the Breach. “Let's hope it works on the big one,” he said, sounding a little worried for a moment, but not saying anything further.
She nodded a little at that before her attention was drawn away again as she heard Cassandra say, “Do not congratulate me, Commander. This is the prisoner's doing.” Turning to face them again, she saw the man who carried the lion helm turn to look at her. He was pale, with high cheekbones and pale stubble along his jaw. Golden blonde hair hung in short waves about his face, brushed back with a gloved hand as he said, “Is it?” He straightened up, and for a moment his face turned grim, “I hope they're right about you. We've lost a lot of people getting you here.”
Rio shifted again, shrinking back a little as she bowed her head and nodded just a little. “I... will do my best...” she said quietly, beginning to worry more and more about disappointing everyone again. She was already proving she couldn't quite handle a battle. At this rate, she might not make it to the Breach to even try to seal it.
She didn't see his nod before his attention turned to Cassandra again, motioning onward. “The way to the temple should be clear for the moment. Leliana will try to meet you there with her archers.”
She nodded at that, turning to Rio again. “Then we'd best move quickly. Try to buy us some time, Commander,” she said before motioning for the others to follow.
“Maker watch over you,” the commander said, nodding a little as they started to press on once more, “for all our sakes...” As the other soldiers and wounded scouts retreated back to the forward camp, Rio felt the task weigh heavily on her shoulders, following Varric and the others to the temple, trying to fight down the urge to panic and run, knowing there was nowhere she could hide, and no way to return home without help.
Shaking her head a little, she pushed down the doubt as she hopped down the short ledge into what looked like a melted and still-smoking crater, with mangled, twisted skeletons scattered here and there.
Before she could ask, Solas said softly, “The Temple of Sacred Ashes...” His voice was quiet, almost reverent as they looked around, eyes searching the remains as if they hoped to find someone else alive, or an answer to the events that unfolded there. Looking around herself, Rio was almost disheartened to find no answer either, heart sinking a little as she began to worry again that the others might start to blame her again for whatever happened.
“What's left of it,” Varric muttered softly, frowning as he looked around uneasily. He didn't like the idea of being here, that much was obvious, and Rio felt a strange weight in the pit of her stomach. She couldn't explain it, but it felt strange, more open and exposed than it really was, and it left her nervous. Anything could be waiting for them here.
“That is where you walked out of the Fade and our soldiers found you,” Cassandra said, looking at Rio as the elf returned her gaze. “They say a woman was in the rift behind you... No one knows who she was...” Rio wished once more that she could remember, something, anything that would help explain things as they cautiously made their way further into the ruins.
Along the path, the remains of a corridor were still standing, and it was through here that they made their way onward. Just around the corner, Leliana was waiting for them. As Cassandra instructed them where to set up around the perimeter, Rio was looking around at the fallen ruins of the temple, and of the huge rift in the center of the cavern. Bits and pieces of the temple still stood, but not many. Frowning a little at the sight of it, she wondered if more Shades would come from this one, or if they would face more of the Terrors. When Cassandra motioned for them to follow, Rio turned to stride around the raised walkway around to the other side of the temple, making note of the strange glowing that seemed to slowly ripple along the great stone outcroppings that had nearly overtaken everything that was left.
A deep shudder tore through Rio when she felt a strange sensation dance up her spine, making her hesitate. A moment later, a deep voice boomed through the ruins, making everyone present jump to attention.
“Now is the hour of our victory,” the voice said, Cassandra instinctively drawing her weapon. “Bring forth the sacrifice.”
“Who was that?” Cassandra said as they stopped walking, Rio instinctively moving between them as she fought the urge to run. Something about the voice was very wrong, and that feeling shook her to the core. Her first instinct was to get away as if something at the edge of her mind was trying to warn her of the danger.
“At a guess,” Solas said, looking to the Breach with a deep frown, “the person who created the Breach...”
Rio wanted to balk, but the others kept moving forward, and when she let some distance get between herself and her companions, she felt exposed again, and it was all she could do to calmly keep up as they continued on.
“Keep the sacrifice still,” the voice said, echoing around the half-crumbled walls. This time, Rio’s shaking was more noticeable, even as she tried not to let the others see how it unnerved her. Varric’s gaze softened just a little, offering her a small comforting smile.
Along the patch, Rio noticed patches of strange red stone here and there. Frowning at it, she noticed the alarmed look on Varric’s face as he looked at Cassandra. “You know this stuff is red lyrium, Seeker!” he hissed, making Rio wonder if there was something bad about it. When they passed a rather large red spike of the stuff, she leaned in close to examine it.
“I see it, Varric,” Cassandra said gently, the frown still in her voice.
“But what’s it doing here?” Varric asked insistently.
“Magic could have drawn on lyrium beneath the temple,” Solas said, trying to be helpful as they continued on, “could have corrupted it...”
“Ugh... This stuff’s evil... Whatever you do, don’t touch it!” He turned to look at Rio, who quickly pulled her hand back, sheepishly moving to catch up with the others, thankful for the warning.
Another voice echoed in the open chamber, a woman’s voice this time, crying out, “Someone, please, help me!”
“That... was Divine Justinia’s voice,” Cassandra said as they approached what might’ve been a staircase before the explosion, cautiously making their way downward. Hopping the last ledge, they fell to the ground floor of the temple’s remains, approaching the Breach slowly. Rio’s hand twitched, the Mark flaring and pulsing painfully as she groaned. For a moment, the Breach jerked in time with the angry pulses of Rio’s mark, and shadowy figures flickered, suspended in the air. One had clawed hands and bright red eyes, standing huge over the smaller one suspended before it.
The smaller one was clearer, a woman in robes similar to Roderick, but with a larger hat. Frowning, Rio watched as she cried “Someone, help me!”
Then, in a flicker, a dazed-looking Rio appeared between them, falling painfully to the ground as she scrambled to get up. Looking around, her eyes were wild and frightened, and she tried to get away from the darker shadow as it loomed over her. “What the—“ Rio said softly, watching as her other self flickered, like a bad movie projection, but it was definitely her. “Wh-what in the world... Where am I?!” her other-self cried, trying to get away still.
“We have an intruder,” the first voice boomed, the huge figure turning on her other-self. Pointing a long and deadly-looking finger at her, it ordered, “Get her, now!”
The mark on Rio’s hand pulsed again, and the shapes were gone again, leaving Rio trembling. There was something about that voice, she knew it felt wrong, sounded wrong, to the point that it grated on her senses. Shaking, she tried to clear her head, blinking as she saw Cassandra whirl on her, scowl darkening.
“You were there! Who attacked?!” she shouted, Rio trying to shrink back from her. “And the Divine, is she...?”
“I don’t know!” Rio cried, scrambling backward as Varric stepped between them. “I can’t remember any of this!”
“Echoes of the past bleed into this place...” Solas said, frowning up at the Breach, Cassandra slowly calming again as he turned again to look at her. “The rift is closed, but it hasn't been sealed properly,” he said softly, Rio trying to calm herself again as she held tightly to her staff. “If we can open the rift, we can then seal it properly with the Mark...”
Cassandra nodded, “Doing that will attract attention on the other side. We are likely to face more demons.” Looking up at the archers as they got into place around the temple, she shouted, “Stand ready!” Looking back at Rio, who jumped at her fierce look, Cassandra motioned to the rift. “We need you to open it so it can get closed properly.”
Rio looked from Cassandra to the giant Rift some twenty feet above their heads, frowning as she shook her head quickly. “Uh-uh! No way in hell am I gonna do that! Who knows what the fuck might fall out of something that big! It's bad enough the Terrors almost did me in!”
“... It was just one Terror that got you,” Varric said with a small smile as Rio frowned down at him.
“My point exactly! I can't handle a normal battle, let alone anything that could fall out of something like that!” Rio cried, shaking her head and turning to try to scramble back up the ledge to get out. Cassandra looked furious, but Rio didn't care—they were asking too much. This was all too much. Fight a Shade or two, fine. Hide from the Wraiths, sure. She could even, with some practice, handle the Terrors. Whatever might come out of that was bound to be enormous, and what little she could do against it would be so inconsequentially small that it didn't seem worth the risk, let alone the challenge.
Solas put a hand up to stay the Seeker, turning to follow Rio as she resolutely tromped away. She made it to the ledge, trying to scramble up, jumping up and trying to grab hold of the edge that was just out of her reach. Letting her hop for a few minutes, Solas stood a few feet away, smiling just a little as he watched her. She was a curious one. Suffering from an identity crisis, faced with an impossible task, and scrambling now to get away from the biggest problem their world had ever faced, Rio was a singularly strange person. Her cadence was strange, her bright eyes looked as if she didn't quite understand what she was seeing, but frightened as she was, she had taken most everything else in stride. This, however, seemed to frighten her the most. Shaking his head a little, he reached out a hand to touch her shoulder. He was somewhat surprised when she turned on him and shoved his hand off, frowning up at him, bright eyes flashing angrily up at him.
“I am not doing this!” she said stubbornly, shaking her head. “And you can't make me!”
Shaking his head a little, he said, “Your only hope to get home is to help us... We cannot begin to understand how you got here if the world is swallowed up by the Breach, and you have our only hope of closing it once and for all.” When she still turned away and started hopping once more, he simply shrugged. “Besides, unless the Breach is stopped, you are trapped here, and soon, there will be nowhere to hide...”
This seemed to give Rio pause, her hand reaching up to lightly touch her staff, biting her lip as she stood there and pondered. Silence fell over the ruins, broken only by the crackling of the Breach itself.
I never wanted to have an adventure, Rio thought to herself, eyes closing tightly as her hands clenched into fists. This isn't my thing! This was... this is an adventure, with risks and battles and struggles abound. I can't do this...
But you're still the only one that can... a voice countered quietly at the back of her mind, and her eyes drifted closed. You're the only chance anyone's got, right? And you're stuck whether you want to be or not...
Sighing softly, she looked up at the sky and found herself murmuring quietly, “What should I do, Rhys?” Solas frowned as he watched her shift uneasily before turning around to look at him sternly, frowning. “Can you promise me that I will be kept safe, that you'll get me home in one piece?” she asked, looking Solas square in the eye as she stood her ground.
Bowing his head a little, he said, “We will do everything to return you to your world, Rio. I promise you that.”
She tried to weigh his words, finding herself half-scowling at him before she sighed, nodding just a little. “All right... Just... Tell me what I have to do.”
***
“This,” Rio shouted as she sprinted away, the Pride Demon hot on her heels, “was not what I had in mind, Solas!” Turning again, the elf quickly helped to draw its attention away from Rio, letting her flee to a safe distance. The battle itself had been slow-going, even with the archers and soldiers trying to help take it down. Every time the demon's shields went up, Rio tried to disrupt the rift, though the demon simply turned and threw a ball of lightning at her, hitting her hard and sending her flying. It was some time before she managed to disrupt it fully, the demon falling to its knees for a short while. As things progressed, Rio found herself closer and closer to the demon to fight, eventually giving up on her spells altogether and just smacking its legs when it went down. When it rose up again, Solas barely managed to catch her with a barrier spell as she scrambled to get out of the way again.
Grunting in frustration, he shouted to her, “Rio! You needn't be so close, da'len!”
She stumbled, barely catching herself as she kept herself moving before she replied, “I just don't want to miss!”
Grey eyes rolled a little before he motioned to the Pride Demon as she circled it again. “It's rather large! You would be hard-pressed to miss it!” The words barely left his lips before she swung her staff and he had to duck to avoid the blast that curved wide, missing the demon entirely by a very wide margin. “... We'll work on the aiming later!” he said, watching from the corner of his eye as Cassandra deflected the blast with her shield, sending it barreling into Varric. The poor dwarf didn't see the friendly fire coming in time, knocked clear off his feet as Cassandra shot Rio an unhappy look. The new mage flinched, scrambling over to help lift Varric up and dust him off.
Thankfully, the rogue was only momentarily dazed, chuckling softly as she spouted apologies and hefted him to his feet. Well, as best she could heft, he may have been shorter than her, but if he had to guess, he still weighed a good bit more than her. Grasping his crossbow, he waved off her kicked-puppy look, trying not to think how she looked very much like Daisy in that moment... Brushing her off, he let loose a volley of bolts, nudging for Rio to get back in the battle. “Keep hitting the demon with blows like that and it'll go down in no time!” he said, trying to be encouraging.
Much of the rest of the battle went the same way, with near-misses and Rio doing almost more damage to her team than the team was doing to the demon. The worst was a blast of ice that struck Cassandra firmly on the back of her head, freezing her in place as Rio stood horrified. Varric had to stop for a moment, unable to hold his crossbow steady as he fought the urge to laugh, though it only lasted a few seconds. As soon as the ice cracked and she could freely move, Cassandra whirled, soft brown eyes turning steely as she glowered at Rio. She tried to back up as the Seeker tromped over to her, cutting down a Shade on her way without even a passing glance. Rio's shoulders slumped and her gaze fell to the ground as she instinctively tried to apologize again.
The Seeker said nothing when she stopped in front of her, but Rio could feel the heat of her gaze. For a moment, she mentally wished she could face the demon instead—at least she could fight that. She jumped, flinching when Cassandra raised a hand, pointing to a far corner of the ruins where some of the archers were steadily shooting at the demon. Taking this as a dismissal from the battlefield, Rio simply turned and walked where she was ordered. From this distance, she had no chance of hitting anything safely, and she realized after a few moments that had likely been the intention. The archers gave her sympathetic looks, continuing to fire upon the demon.
When at last the demon fell, everyone turned to Rio. Getting up from where she'd been sitting quietly out of the way, she ran forward, reaching her hand hesitantly towards the Breach. She couldn't hit anything worth her life with a spell, but this... at least this much, she could do. As a line of bright, crackling power connected her mark to the Breach, she concentrated hard, shifting and weaving the pieces of the world back together, tucking it in neatly. She concentrated hard, gritting her teeth against the strain. She had to do this. She had to prove she was useful until they could send her back.
When the large Rift slammed shut and a green light shot up into the sky, it sent out a resounding shockwave, hitting Rio first and hardest. She was flung back, crashing to the ground limply as darkness hit her before she even knew what had happened.
***
The darkness peeled back from her subconscious at the sound of a door creaking on old hinges. It was a new sound, and she flinched at how it grated on her ears. Groaning, she turned, burying her face into the pillow beneath her head before burrowing herself deeper into the blankets. Why was it so cold, anyway? She had paid the gas bill just last week, they shouldn't be hounding her for more just yet... It wasn't until she heard footsteps that she realized something was off, shifting to try to sit up, throwing blankets off as she looked around.
The walls were made of wooden planks, plain and rough-hewn, but they fit together well. She had been tucked into a bed, blankets and furs pulled up tight around her ears as she sat shivering. Looking about the room, she spotted a small table, a desk, a barrel... and another elf. She squeaked, jumping when she saw Rio was awake, dropping the small crate in her arms as she took a step back.
“F-forgive me, your ladyship!” she said, looking quite worried. “I didn't mean to wake you...”
Rubbing one sleepy eye, Rio stretched slowly, grumbling, “No... it... it's fine... It's...” Sighing heavily as she started to come to terms with the fact that this was still quite real, Rio murmured quietly, “I had been kind of hoping it was all a dream...”
The other elf was a sprightly thing, with soft hazel eyes and a sweet face, cropped brown hair pushed out of her face. Smiling up a little at her, she watched as she bowed her head slightly. “It's... it's okay... really... I...” Looking around the room again, she asked, “Where am I?”
“Haven,” she said, keeping her head bowed as she answered Rio's question. “They... brought you back here from the Temple... They say you saved us...” She risked a glance up, almost looking excited as she smiled, “It's all they've talked about for the last three days!”
Rio looked surprised at that, slowly climbing from the bed and stretching again. “Three days? I've been out for three days?”
She didn't miss the other's shrug, nor her mumbled, “Almost four,” smiling a little as she straightened up and said, “I'll go and let the Lady Cassandra know you've awakened! She wanted to know right away!” Turning, she quickly left the room, leaving Rio to stare after her before starting to look around.
She found her vestments from before easily enough, turning to leave through the heavy wooden door. She was shocked to find many people lining the streets as she stepped outside, the cold wind brushing her cheeks as she felt at once more awake and more tired. As she walked, she heard people say, “Blessings upon you, Herald of Andraste,” and “That's her! That's the Herald!” and “Maker watch over you, Herald”.
She wanted to stop once or twice to ask what they meant, but each time, others reprimanded the speakers gently, “We shouldn't disturb her... She's being summoned...” Frowning, she made her way up the patch, finding that large church at the end of it and stepping inside. Steeling herself at the silence around her, she made her way forward, noting that the carpet had been replaced with a green runner, leading her towards a small door with a red banner hanging overhead. Looking up at it, she frowned at the sun symbol stitched elegantly into the middle, wondering what kind of god these people worshipped. Reaching out, she jumped at the voices that echoed from within.
“Have you gone completely mad?!” she heard, almost bristling at the chancellor's voice. “She should be taken to Val Royeaux immediately, to be tried by... by... Whomever becomes Divine!” he cried, obviously frustrated.
“I do not believe she is guilty,” Cassandra said, making her relax a little. No matter how angry she might've been at the cold blast, Cassandra wasn't throwing her under the bus at least.
“The elf failed, Seeker!” Roderick hissed angrily, his voice lowering. “The Breach is still in the sky!” Her heart sank at that. She hadn't even thought to look when she came out, she'd been so distracted. All that work, for nothing... Getting home seemed an impossible task now... “For all you know, she intended it this way!”
She scowled, about to burst into the room herself when she heard, “I do not believe that!” Stilling herself again with her hand on the doorknob, she listened quietly, fighting to compose herself. Pushing down the tears, she took a breath. “That is not for you to decide,” the chancellor said as if waving off Cassandra's statement. “Your duty is to serve the Chantry.”
“My duty is to serve the principles on which the Chantry was founded, Chancellor, as is yours,” Cassandra replied, her voice stern. Sensing this was the best moment to burst onto the scene, Rio steeled herself, pushing the door open quickly and striding inside.
“Chain her!” Roderick cried when she entered the room, scowling as he motioned to the guards. “I want her prepared for travel to the capital for her trial!”
Before they could respond, Cassandra held up her hand to stay them. “Disregard that,” she said, “and leave us.” They hesitated a moment before doing as she bade, Roderick's eyes glaring daggers at Cassandra as he sneered.
“You walk a dangerous line, Seeker,” he hissed.
Cassandra turned on him next, crossing her arms over her chestplate. “The Breach is stable, but it is still a threat. I will not ignore it.”
“I...” Rio started to say, feeling eyes fall on her as she faltered a moment. Taking a breath, she shook her head, “I tried so hard to close it... I don't know why it didn't work... I don't understand why I'm still a suspect, I didn't have anything to do with this!”
“You absolutely are the one behind this!” Roderick bellowed, and Rio nearly shrank back again.
“No, Chancellor,” Cassandra said, her voice icy with scorn, “she is not.
Leliana stepped forward from the shadows, speaking up, “Someone was behind the explosion at the Conclave, Chancellor, but it wasn't Rio. We watched her drop in on whomever did it, and I've seen her... handiwork,” she said with a soft giggle, Rio's face turning red as Cassandra scowled at her. “I highly doubt she'd ever be capable of wielding such magics...”
“So the mark on her hand, her survival—you expect me to believe this is all a mere coincidence?”
Cassandra and Leliana shook their heads in unison as they stood before the Chancellor. “No,” Cassandra said, “it was providence! The Maker sent her to us in our darkest hour.”
Everyone turned to Rio, then, who blinked right back. Trying to take in what they were saying, she could only manage a soft, “You... What?” Shaking herself a moment, she stepped back, holding up her hands. “Whoa, now, hold the phone... I... I'm not from here... I wasn't sent by your Maker or god or whoever you think—I was dropped here on accident. Trust me, I'm nobody!”
Cassandra shook her head a little, “regardless of where you come from, Rio, we cannot pretend you were not exactly what we needed, when we needed it.”
As she turned away for a few moments, Leliana spoke up, “The Breach remains, and your mark is still our only hope of closing it...”
Having stood quietly for long enough, Chancellor Roderick spat, “This is not for you to decide!”
Cassandra stepped forward again, slamming an old book on the table, making Rio jump at the sound. Pointing to the symbol etched into the front, she looked at Roderick. “Do you know what this is?” Without giving him a chance to answer, she straightened up, the fierce look in her eyes blazing as she stepped towards the Chancellor. “This is a writ from the Divine, granting us the authority to act! As of this moment, I declare the Inquisition of old reborn!” Jabbing a finger at his chest, she nearly snarled, “We will close the Breach, we will find those responsible, and we will restore order, with or without your approval!”
Looking from the angry Seeker to Leliana and then to Rio, Roderick seemed to sense when he was beaten, begrudgingly turning to leave the room in a huff.
As the door slammed shut behind him, Leliana gently traced the book with her fingertips. Rio looked up at her as she said softly, “This is the Divine's directive... Rebuild the Inquisition of old, and find those who will stand against the chaos.” Sighing, she looked up, giving Rio a sideways glance. “We aren't ready. We have no leader, no numbers, and now no Chantry support.”
“But we have no choice, Leliana, we must act now.” Turning to Rio, she nodded firmly, “With you at our side.”
Taking a deep breath, Rio felt her heart start to race. Once again, she was getting in over her head. She didn't know what an Inquisition was, except the one they taught about in high school and made fun of on the television. And didn't the Inquisition burn witches? Why would they need a mage for that?! She felt herself on the verge of panicking as she looked between Leliana and Cassandra, trying to figure out why they seemed to think she would agree to this. Sucking in a deep breath, she murmured, “But I'm nobody...”
Leliana smiled, circling the table to place a hand on her shoulder comfortingly, “Well... maybe you were, once... But now, you're exactly what we need.”
She wanted to tell them no, that they could shove their witch hunt where the sun doesn't shine, but against her better judgment, she managed a shaky, “I... but... We... They...” Clearing her throat, she shook her head. “I didn't imagine this when I woke up...”
Leliana chuckled softly at that. “Neither did we...”
Cassandra turned to her, holding out a gloved hand to her. “Help us stop this, before it's too late...” Looking from her hand to the Seeker's face, she only hesitated a moment, nodding as she clasped her hand tightly, shaking it.
“Good,” Leliana said, smiling. “Now let's get you into something a little more fitting an agent of the Inquisition, hmm?”
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Her Destiny Lies Elsewhere